Effect of truncal vagotomy on acid and pepsin: response to a cholinergic drug in man.

The gastric output of acid and pepsin in response to two doses of the cholinergic drug carbachol was measured before and two months after complete truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty in eight patients with duodenal ulcer. After vagotomy the basal output of acid and pepsin was reduced and there was no stimulation of secretion by a subthreshold dose of carbachol (0.5 units/kg) nor was there an increase in the response to a submaximal dose of carbachol (2.0 units/kg).Cannon's criteria for denervation supersensitivity of an organ were not obeyed with regard to acid or pepsin secretion.